Potable Water

Sanitary Defects

Conditions that may cause the contamination of a water supply during or after treatment. Includes: connections to unsafe water supplies, raw water bypasses in treatment plants, pumbing fixtures improperly designed and/or installed, leaking water and swer pipes in the same trench.

Check Valve

Self-closing device which is designed to allow the flow of fluids in one direction and to close if there is a reversal of flow.

Air Gap

a physical seperatino suffiecent to prevent backflow between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water system outlet and any other system.

Filtration

a process for removing particulate matter from water by passage through porous media.

Marginal chlorination

application of chlorine to produce the desired total chlorine residual without reference to the amounts of free or combined chlorine present.

Free Available chlorine

chlorine availible (after chlorine demand has been satisfied) in the forms of hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions.

Backsiphonage

Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the distribution pipes of potable water systems.

Disinfectant

A chemical or physical process that kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Cross Connection

Any actual or ptential connection between the public water supply and source of contamination or pollution.

Contaminant

Anything found in water which may be harmfulto human health, Ex: microorganisms, minerals, chemicals.

Chloromine

The chlorine products formed by the reaction of equilibrium products of ammonia with the equilibrium products of chlorine to form chloramines.

BackFlow

The flow of non-potable water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the potable water supply system.

Total Available chlorine

The sum of the chlorine forms present as free available chlorine and combined available chlorine.

Raw Water

Untreated water entering the first treatment unit of a water treatment plant. Water used as a cource of water supply taken from an impounded body of water (stream, lake or pond).

Treated Water

Water that is ready for consumption but has undergone processing such as sedimentation, filtration, softening, disinfection, Included is purchases potable water that is retreated (chlorinated, flouridated)